Canal St. Martin, Paris

Photograph by Gordon Gahan, National Geographic

Light is a very important element in photography. What many people may overlook is the beauty of natural light in a place that may not be so attractive to look at - just like this Canal in Paris. With the rest of the picture being slightly unexposed, it puts more focus on the light beams and allows us to see them better. The reflection of the beams on the water makes for an interesting pattern, almost as if they are forming arrows together. Just as when the sun's rays seem to come down to touch the earth, these beams are also touching an element of earth, which is another part of what draws me into the photograph. 

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